Demba Ba describes Argentina as 'an asylum for former Nazis on the run' as the former Chelsea star wades into racism row after sports minister was fired for telling Lionel Messi to apologise

Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba has waded into the Argentina racism row by describing the South American country as an 'asylum for former Nazis on the run' 

Enzo Fernandez is at the centre of a scandal after he posted a video on social media which appeared to show him and a number of his team-mates singing along to a song which is alleged to include 'racist and discriminatory language'. 

Fernandez is now facing sanctions from the Premier League, while Chelsea stated that they are conducting an internal disciplinary procedure, and the song has been criticised by his Blues team-mate Wesley Fofana. 

Now, Ba - who was born in France - has joined in on the criticism, posting on X: 'Argentina, land of asylum for former Nazis on the run. From 1945, Peron hosted war criminals. And it surprises you...'

It comes after Argentina's deputy sports minister was fired for suggesting that Lionel Messi apologise for the video.

Yesterday it was revealed that Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister was keen to stress that the chant sung by the Argentina team had been misinterpreted somewhat, and in his defense of Fernandez, claimed that their's was 'not a racist country'.

'You have to be careful with what you say or do,' Mac Allister said on Thursday in an interview with Argentina's Urbana Play FM. 'Especially in Europe where they are much more sensitive than here.

'The reality is that we are not a racist country; we are not used to talking about racism so much.'

Adding that it was 'obviously a very important topic', Mac Allister went on to underscore that the midfielder was a good person.

'Enzo has already apologised and explained what happened,' the midfielder continued. 'I don't think there's much more to say.

'We know Enzo, we know he would never do it with bad intentions, he's not that guy, he's not racist.' 

Fernandez has received widespread condemnation for participating in the chant, including from his west London team-mates such as Wesley Fofana - who described it as 'uninhibited racism'.

Fofana's Chelsea compatriots including Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Lesley Ugochukwu have since unfollowed Fernandez on the platform, where Fernandez on Tuesday shared a public apology.

The 23-year-old is also thought to have apologised to his team-mates in private, against the backdrop of the club launching an 'internal disciplinary procedure' over their midfielder's conduct.